Scotland's gold: Demand for old Scotch whisky leads to a shortage around the world

10:46, 11 Mar 2016

ByScotland Now

EXPERTS say whisky is becoming a more profitable investment than gold bars or oil with demand from around the world for rare and older malts soaring over the past 10 years.

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David Moir/REUTERS

Scotch whisky is becoming a more profitable investment than gold bars

OLD Scotch whisky has become Scotland ’s gold - as soaring demand has led to a global shortage.

Demand from around the world for rare and older malts has soared over the past 10 years - reducing supplies and pushing up values.

Now experts say whisky is becoming a more profitable investment than gold bars or oil.

According to the Scotch Whisky Association, global single malt sales rose by 159 per cent between 2004 and 2014, and distilleries are struggling to keep up with demand - despite ramping up production to record levels.

Many new markets have a discovered a growing thirst for the nectar - particularly Asia, which now consumes one-fifth of all Scotch exports quaffing a quarter of a billion bottles a year.